Re: Brake Caliper bolts

["Barton P. Chambers" <bchambers@atlantic.nos.noaa.gov>]

Hi Bob,
> 
>    > I will be replacing the front and rear brake pads on my '87 5000 TQ soon
>    > (with Repco MetalMasters by the way). The Bentley manual says that the
>    > self-locking brake caliper bolts MUST be replaced by new ones with the
>    > pad change. Is this necessary? Talking to my local Audi dealer parts
>    ...
>    >From my experience, and most others that I have talked to, the "use only 
>    once" bolts are fine with some Loctite.  If you are really concerned, use 
>    the "Red" which is for locking studs and bearings.  It won't come off.
> 
> I tend to agree with you with but one caveat -- flywheel, cylinder head,
> etc bolts should probably be replaced rather than reused when so labeled.
> They undergo extreme stress . . . 

I, on the other hand, never would replace such bolts unless they secured 
(hmmmmm, funny choice of words here...) some item upon which my life (or 
some other's lives; or my engine's life) depended.

On *everything* else (say, the glovebox door hinge), why bother... (he asked, 
rhetorically...)

Bart